Training on Maidstone United's 3G pitch is fantastic for our Academy boys, says coach Jack Parkinson

The Kent FA and the Rochester and District League are working together to form a Veterans League in the Medway and Maidstone area and want your ideas to help shape its development.

The proposal currently in planning is to introduce a new league that would become a division of the Rochester & District League.  The players invited to this Veterans League would all need to be over the age of 35.

The new Veterans League aims to target those who no longer play football and those who still occasionally get together for a friendly kick about.

The Kent FA Development Officer, Liz Symons, explained; “We know that there are lots of people out there in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and even 60’s playing and enjoying football but until now there has never been any local, formal structure for them.

“Over the last few years, the Kent FA has had tremendous success organising and supporting leagues for young people, adults, women and girls and the disabled. We now wish to turn our attention to an age group that in the past has been left slightly out of the loop." 

Football is not only the world’s most popular sport it is also a great way to keep fit and make friends.

Last season the Kent FA introduced a Veterans County Cup which sixteen teams entered. The Kent FA is now determined to go one step further and introduce a league.

An open meeting has been organised on Tuesday the 17^th December 2013, 7.30pm, at the Kent FA HQ. The meeting welcomes all those who are interested in shaping the development and formation of this league.

The meeting will discuss details including days the games will be played, the frequency of games and any other questions and considerations that participants suggest.

If you would like to attend this initial meeting please or want to find out more information email Liz Symons liz.symons@kentfa.com.    

At the other end of the scale, Maidstone United are holding an open evening on Monday, 18 November, for current year 11 students interesting in joining their Academy next September.

The two-year course is ideal for anyone looking to combine studying and playing football full time.

The open evening will be held at the Gallagher Stadium with presentations starting at 19:30.

The course, which is provided in association with Mid Kent College, offers a BTEC National Diploma in Sport (Level 3) and a range of vocational qualifications including Football Association coaching badges (Levels 1 and 2), first aid and refereeing awards.

The academy has two teams competing in the Football Conference Youth Alliance.

Last season, the Stones were divisional champions in that competition and top scorer Alfie Pavey, who netted more than 100 times, was signed by Championship club Millwall.

The club’s Academy manager is Jack Parkinson, who plays Conference Premier football for Woking.

He said: “It’s a great opportunity for players that want to come out of school and go into full-time football and add their academic studies with it.

“Our success on the pitch this year has been great. We have Jack Sullivan and Charley Robertson signed with our first team and have already played two games between them.

“Alfie Pavey has gone to Millwall. Michael Hart is going to America along with ten other players out on loan at non-league clubs.

“The full-time training we have helps give the players a great chance to put their selves in the shop window and training in the new stadium each day is fantastic for the boys.

Meanwhile, Ryman Football League chairman Alan Turvey has called on the Football Conference to think again and back 3G pitches for the long term good of the game.

In a letter to Football Conference Chairman Brian Lee, Mr Turvey has urged the governing body of English football’s fifth and sixth tiers below the Football League to allow the latest high-tech artificial surfaces after seeing the results in the Ryman League and benefits all the way up to Football’s highest levels in the Champions League and international fixtures.

With Maidstone United and their artificial surface at the Gallagher Stadium vying to be in contention for promotion to Conference South and increasing numbers of clubs from Step 3 with artificial surfaces likely to follow, Mr Turvey believes their wider introduction and eventual acceptance throughout the game is inevitable.

The Ryman Chairman added his weight to the debate on Thursday with the Stones due to hold discussions with representatives of the Football Conference later this month in an effort to avoid the possibility of a future legal dispute over entry into the Football Conference and the stepping stone it provides for an eventual return to the Football League for the Kent club.

Maidstone United are spear-heading 3G4US, the growing group of clubs lobbying for blocks to the introduction of 3G to be removed, and in his letter to his Conference counter-part the Ryman’s Chairman and President backed their on-going campaign.

Mr Turvey wrote:  “As you will be aware the Ryman League now has two members with the new 3G surface namely Maidstone United and Harlow Town.

“I have witnessed matches at both of these clubs and their acceptance is well known, no complaints received from either players or match officials.

“I would ask if the Conference will give serious consideration to this type of proven surface and allow promotion to your competitions without further delay. Initially the acceptance could be to the two Regional Divisions.

“I really hope that the Conference will seriously reconsider the matter of 3G. In the event that a club should qualify for promotion and be rejected I feel that football at our levels will get very bad publicity.”

Visit Maidstone United’s website: www.maidstoneunited.co.uk  

Visit The Kent FA’s website: www.kentfa.com

Visit The Ryman League website: www.isthmian.co.uk